Minutes:
(Mr D Sowerby, Joint Director, Learning Disability, and Ms S Gratton, Head of Learning Disability Commissioning, Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT, were in attendance for this and the following items)
(1) Mr Sowerby and Mr Mills introduced the report and explained that Kent had the opportunity, until the end of March 2008, to comment on the Valuing People Now (VPN) proposals. Mr Sowerby set out how service provision for people with learning disabilities had changed through the 20th century, arriving at the production of the Valuing People strategy in 1999. VPN would now build on and develop further the Valuing People strategy, setting out four key priorities for action on which consultees were able to comment. Mr Sowerby said that, in his view, Kent’s two key issues were leadership and accountability and organisational change. A presentation on these key issues would be made to the Cabinet in March at which people with learning disabilities would attend to speak to Members.
(2) Arising from the presentation, and in response to questions raised by Members, the following points were highlighted:-
(a) Mr Sowerby gave a definition of “learning disability” as severely impaired social functioning and severe intellectual impairment (e.g., the ability to handle new information or change) which developed before adulthood. This distinguished those with learning disabilities from people who had suffered similar impairments as a result of a car accident, for example, in adulthood.
(b) It was vital to encourage people with learning disabilities to engage with work as far as possible to develop their work skills and help them avoid the ‘benefit trap’.
(c) A strategic board had been set up to look at the transfer of resources for people with LD from the NHS to the KCC, led by Miss C Highwood, KASS Director of Resources, and included the Directors of Finance from the two PCTs and Ms Gratton.
(d) Kent had placed 200 of its own people with learning disabilities out of the county, and 1,500 had been placed in Kent by other local authorities, for whom funding did not follow. Approximately 900 out of the 1,500 incomers were placed in Thanet, giving it a disproportionately high percentage.
(e) Members expressed the concern that the VPN strategy did not include any reference to education amongst its four top priorities, although good education facilities for people with learning disabilities were vital as they learn for longer. There had been more educational opportunities for people with learning disabilities years ago than there were now! Changes being made now should have happened years ago.
(f) In recent years, society seemed to have made very little progress in enabling people with learning disabilities to play a part in the community.
(g) Area Partnership Boards (examples quoted were Dartford and Maidstone) did engage with people with learning disabilities and had been addressing the issue of integration, and such a link could also usefully be included when drafting the Terms of Reference of the Accessing Democracy Select Committee. All Members could be informed of the arrangements for their Local Area Partnership Boards so they could access them and become involved.
(h) It was important to allow people with learning disabilities to lead change and for KCC to fit around their agenda, rather than the other way around.
(i) Work linked to “Learning Disability Awareness Week” in 2007 had highlighted that some people’s attitudes to learning disabilities were very out of date.
(j) Sevenoaks Town Council was currently running a good initiative wherein local shop keepers who were willing to welcome and act as champions to people with learning disabilities would display a badge in their shop windows. People with learning disabilities who experienced problems or became distressed while out in the town centre knew they could go to a shop displaying the badge to receive support and understanding.
(k) There were a number of things KCC could and should do; address the transport issue by liaising with commercial bus providers, and establish a Kent Employability Forum to support potential employees with learning disabilities and employers seeking to take them.
(3) RESOLVED that the consultation process be noted and Members’ comments and suggestions, listed above, be included in KCC’s response to the VPN consultation.